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Kobe flies in to meet with Melo

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant flew in late Wednesday night from a European vacation so he could play a key part in the team’s pitch to free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony on Thursday, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Bryant has a long history and friendship with Anthony and has been courting him for some time, but he felt it was important to be there when the Lakers made their pitch to him at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles.

Kobe has always been one of the lead recruiters in free agency for the Lakers. Typically, though, he’s been called on to help deliver quality role players for the mid-level exception, or veterans in that later stages of their careers willing to play for cheap in order to compete for a championship. This is the first time in the Kobe era that the Lakers have had significant cap space to go after a max level free agent, and it happens to come at the most crucial time of his career.

With two years remaining on his current contract, Kobe is looking at potentially being on a middle-of-the-road team or worse if the Lakers aren’t able to land Carmelo. If Carmelo signs elsewhere, there’s a good chance that Pau Gasol could follow suit, with several contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls after him. That’s going to leave the Lakers only second and third tier free agents to try to form a contender around Kobe with, a hard task to say the least.

The addition of Carmelo though gives them one of the league’s elite players right now. Carmelo, a healthy Kobe and Gasol could at least be competitive in the Western Conference, perhaps even good enough to truly contending depending on how they mesh and what pieces are added throughout the rest of free agency.

For so many years Kobe has had a reputation as someone who other players in the league don’t want to play with. The argument was never stronger than last summer when Dwight Howard walked away from a five year max contract offer to take less money and years from the Houston Rockets. Convincing Carmelo to join forces with him, though, would not only prove that he can get guys to come to L.A. to play with him, but insure that he is going to be competing for a championship during the final stretch of his career.

The Lakers have been trying to set a meeting with LeBron James as well, with the best-case scenario hopes of luring both him and Carmelo to Hollywood. Kobe has reportedly reached out to them and told them it would be just like it was on the Olympic team in 2012, where they were the stars and Kobe focused primarily on defense. Up to this point, though, LeBron has shown no desire to leave Miami. As a result, the Lakers are all in on Carmelo, hoping that playing with Kobe and Gasol on a max contract is enough to bring him cross country from New York. Besides, LeBron has made it clear that he is only going to pay for the max, basically torpedoing the Lakers’ chances at signing them both, which would require them to accept a starting salary somewhere in the $16-17 million range, well short of the max.

The Knicks are going to meet with Carmelo after the Lakers, so all of his meetings will be in the books on by the end of Thursday night and we should be only a couple of days at worst from him making a final decision.

This was the move the Raptors had to make, and they were able to do it without giving a fifth year to Lowry. Lowry has the ability to get out of the deal after the third year, giving him the opportunity to become a free agent when the league’s salary cap is expected to be it’s highest at 30 years old. That means potentially one more big pay day for Lowry, should he continue on his current level of play.

Letting Lowry get away meant a big step backwards for the Raptors, who lacked quality contingency plans in the case of his departure. The Miami HEAT were reportedly hot in pursuit, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets were also trying to sign him.

This move guarantees that the Raptors will be able to pick up where they left off last season. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri came with the hopes of returning the franchise back to relevance and that part of the job already seems complete, as they’re poised to make consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since the Chris Bosh era.

This spells the end of the Isaiah Thomas era in Sacramento. With Rudy Gay opting in the Kings’ chances of keeping Thomas were low to begin with, but now it is all but official that he’ll be playing elsewhere next season.

The Kings still hold the ability to offer him more money than any team and could sign-and-trade him. The Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami HEAT have all contacted him to voice interest. He’s poised to receive a big pay increase no matter where he goes.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are going to scour a thin point guard market in search of a backup for Chris Paul. Paul has had some durability issues in the past, so finding a quality backup is going to be important for them. They’ve been quietly active in free agency so far, making it clear that they would move mountains to make room for Carmelo or LeBron. But once they make their intentions known, finding a backup point guard will become a priority for them.

NBA Rumors: Cousins’ Camp Doesn’t Want Karl Hired?

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Cousins’ Camp Doesn’t Want Karl Hired?

Karl’s personal past with a number of influential members in and around the Kings organization remains relevant as well, as he previously coached Kings advisor Chris Mullin and has history with the two agents who represent franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins as well. Cousins’ day-to-day agent, Jarrin Akana, worked with Karl in Denver and was re-assigned from assistant coach to scout when Karl took over for coach Jeff Bzdelik in 2005. Dan Fegan, Cousins’ lead agent, represented Karl’s son, Coby, as a player for years before he was eventually replaced. That circle, by all accounts, has been against the notion of adding Karl.

To that end, D’Alessandro’s ability to change their minds is key here as well. While it appears D’Alessandro is endorsing Karl with or without the support of his team’s top player or his representatives, he would prefer to have agreement on that front if Ranadive ultimately approves the hiring. There is some concern within the organization, however, that hiring Karl could create substantive conflict going forward when it comes to Cousins.

On Saturday, reports surfaced that the Kings were seriously pursuing George Karl since they didn’t want to lose him to the Magic (who recently fired Jacque Vaughn). Even though the Magic have yet to contact Karl or his camp, the head coach’s interest in the Orlando job seemed to get Sacramento talking about a deal.

Now, however, it seems DeMarcus Cousins’ camp (and some minority owners, according to Amick) are trying to stop the Kings from hiring Karl due to past issues with the veteran head coach. It remains to be seen if Pete D’Alessandro will hire him anyway (and risk upsetting Cousins).

The Kings have dropped to 17-32 under Ty Corbin, and Cousins recently said he was more frustrated now than he’s ever been since joining the Kings.

In 2005, Karl took over the Denver Nuggets midseason and they went 32-8 after he got the job (which is the best record for a coach who has taken over a job midseason).

Karl has 25 years of head coaching experience and an NBA Finals appearance on his resume. He is 1131-756 in the regular season and 80-105 in the postseason.

Miami Hasn’t Told Johnson He’ll Be Signed

The Heat hasn’t told Tyler Johnson, who has impressed, if he will be signed for balance of the season when his second 10-day expires Monday.

Miami needs to decide if they want to sign Tyler Johnson for the remainder of the season or let him go.

Erik Spoelstra has praised the young guard and recently described him as the “model of player development,” which suggests his head coach has been impressed and would like him to stick around.

Johnson has appeared in six games for Miami, averaging 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 18.8 minutes per game.

In his most recent game, he had 18 points (on 7-10 shooting from the field) and two steals in 25 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs. He also had a 13-point, nine-rebound, two-block and two-steal performance in 27 minutes against the Boston Celtics last week.

Johnson has already signed two 10-day contracts and his next deal would be for the rest of the season.

Bucks Sign Gutierrez to Another 10-Day

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a second 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

via Milwaukee Bucks press release

Jorge Gutierrez has appeared in four games for the Bucks and averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14.8 minutes per game.

He made one start for Milwaukee on Feb. 2 at Toronto, and on Feb. 6 at Houston, tied his career high for scoring with 13 points in the game.

Gutierrez signed his first 10-day contract on January 28. After this second 10-day deal expires, the Bucks will have to decide if they want to keep him for the remainder of the season or let him go.

NBA Rumors: Kevin Garnett May Be On the Move

Check out the biggest rumors of the day in our NBA Rumor Round-Up. For more rumors and news, check out Basketball Insiders’ headlines, which are constantly being updated.

Kevin Garnett On the Move?

It’s also fun to watch the Nets figure out the present and future of their big-man rotation, which includes two pieces — Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett — who will be the subject of trade talks over the next two weeks. Garnett has a no-trade clause, but he holds some appeal to playoff teams who can use a boost off the bench and/or some long-term salary relief — Golden State, Charlotte, Toronto, and others. The Nets won’t engage in any series of deals that leaves them with more long-term salary, so it will be tough to find the right combination of trades that makes dealing Garnett’s expiring contract palatable. But the cranky one can still knock down a midrange jumper and play solid defense.

Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson have been mentioned quite a bit in trade rumors, but Kevin Garnett’s name hasn’t come up as much.

But it makes sense that teams are expressing interest in the veteran big man, as he could bolster a frontcourt and provide championship experience. Brooklyn is just 21-28 and barely staying in the playoff picture in the weak Eastern Conference.

As Zach Lowe writes, Garnett’s no-trade clause and contract could make things a bit difficult. Garnett is under contract for $12,000,000, and the Nets don’t want to take back any long-term deals in exchange for KG.

Still, it’s interesting that he’s coming up in trade talks. He could certainly help a team like the Warriors, Hornets and Raptors, among others.

This season, Garnett is averaging 6.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and a steal in 20.7 minutes per game for the Nets. He is 38 years old and he’s in his 20th NBA season. If Garnett isn’t traded, a buyout could also be a possibility.

Hawks Pursuing Ray Allen

Hearing Atlanta trying to get in the Ray Allen mix. Cleveland still the favorite. Look for decision after All-Star break.

It’s no surprise to hear that the Hawks are interested in Ray Allen. Just about every contending team has reached out to Allen at some point, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and many others also being linked to the veteran shooter as well.

With all of that said, it remains to be seen if Allen will even play this year. He has been working out in Miami, but that doesn’t mean he’s making a comeback. Allen is a fitness freak who will be working out every day for the rest of his life – NBA career or not.

He isn’t sure if he wants to play this season and is enjoying time with his family (and golfing). Some people around the league have assumed he’s just waiting for the right time to sign and will definitely play, but sources close to Allen insist that he really hasn’t made a decision one way or the other.

Allen averaged 9.6 points per game last year on the Miami HEAT and hit perhaps the biggest shot of his career the year before, which helped Miami go on to win the championship over the San Antonio Spurs. Atlanta is already a very talented team with a balanced attack, and thinking of them with Allen (who would fit in perfectly) also providing shooting off of the bench is scary.

Mavericks Would Be Favorites to Land Stoudemire

The Dallas Mavericks would be considered front-runners to sign Amar’e Stoudemire if the 13-year veteran opts to pursue a contract buyout from the New York Knicks, according to league sources.

Stoudemire made it clear in his public comments that he’s not yet sure if he wants to seek a buyout from the Knicks to join a contender for the stretch run, but sources told ESPN.com that Dallas has quickly emerged as a prime landing spot if he becomes a free agent.

Dallas makes sense as a landing spot for Amar’e Stoudemire, as they’re a very talented team and he could play a significant role there since their frontcourt needs depth.

The article also mentions that the Mavericks still plan to sign Jermaine O’Neal, who recently had Orthokine treatment and is trying to get in playing shape.

Dallas is “prepared to make the needed roster room to accommodate both O’Neal and Stoudemire,” which would be huge for the franchise. If they were to add both players, frontcourt depth would go from a weakness to a strength for the Mavericks.

Stoudemire is making $23,410,988 this season and may be willing to leave some of that money on the table in order to become an unrestricted free agent. New York is just 10-39, which is the worst record in the Eastern Conference. This year, Stoudemire has averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 24.5 minutes.

Check out the biggest rumors of the day in our NBA Rumor Round-Up. For more rumors and news, check out Basketball Insiders’ headlines, which are constantly being updated.

Stoudemire May Ask Knicks for Buyout

Amar’e Stoudemire plans to use the All-Star break to decide whether to ask the New York Knicks for a contract buyout that could free him to potentially sign with a playoff contender.

“It’s not an easy decision to make,” Stoudemire told Yahoo Sports. “Over time, we will see how things pan out. You give yourself a break during the All-Star break. You think about it with your family. …That will give me a good solid week on how to weigh out the rest of the season.”

“All possibilities at this point are still open,” Stoudemire said of a possible buyout. “The door is still open for that. But at the same time, I am with the Knicks now. I got to stay optimistic about things and what we are doing here. I can’t really focus on the future because it’s not here.

“We still have a couple weeks left before it’s all said and done. It’s a decision I have to make with my family to figure out the best scenario for the near future.”

Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t sure if he’ll ask the Knicks for a buyout, but according to this interview it’s definitely something he’ll consider and discuss with his inner circle during the All-Star break.

Stoudemire is making $23,410,988 this season and may be willing to leave some of that money on the table in order to become an unrestricted free agent and then join a contending team. New York is just 10-39, which is the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

If Stoudemire does become available, expect plenty of teams to express interest in the veteran big man. He may not be the star player he was earlier in his career, but he’s still a talented big man who can bolster a team’s frontcourt.

The L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers are mentioned by Spears as teams that may pursue Stoudemire if he becomes available, since they have been interested in adding a big man.

This season, Stoudemire has averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 24.5 minutes. Spears adds that the Knicks’ top priority seems to be buying out Andrea Bargnani, who is making $11,500,000 this year.

Karl Would Be Interested in Magic Job

One name to watch is George Karl. Sources didn’t mention him as a target for the Magic initially, but I’m told that Karl would have interest in coaching Orlando and possibly joining the team midseason.

Karl had previously said he’d prefer a job out West, but sources say he would be interested in the Magic since they’re an attractive team with their youth and talent.

Scott Skiles and Mark Jackson are the two head coaches who keep coming up when discussing the Orlando Magic’s targets, but George Karl may emerge as a possibility as well.

As I wrote yesterday, sources say Karl would be open to coaching the Magic – possibly even taking over midseason. Remember, back in 2005 he took over the Denver Nuggets midseason and they went 32-8 after he got the job (which is the best record for a coach who has taken over in the middle of a campaign).

Sources say that the Magic want a proven head coach, and Karl has 25 years of coaching experience and an NBA Finals appearance on his resume. He is 1131-756 in the regular season and 80-105 in the postseason.

The Magic are currently 15-37, which is the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, but they have plenty of young players with a lot of potential such as Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Maurice Harkless and Kyle O’Quinn among others.

“Everybody will be in their own kind of zone on All-Star weekend. The real effect that they will feel will be during the game here at the Garden, kind of seeing what the Garden has to offer, not just for New York Knicks but for everything,” Anthony said. “And that is a big moment — that Sunday in the All-Star Game.

“The Garden will be lit up, it will be bright, there will be a lot of people in there, it will be loud and it will be exciting. So for other players to see that, I am pretty sure that will be impressive,” Anthony said.

Anthony mentioned no names. So we will: Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Memphis’ Marc Gasol and Atlanta’s Paul Millsap are the most prominent 2015 free agents who will play in the All-Star Game.

“For the most part, guys pretty much know New York. Especially veteran guys who have been in the league for a long time,” Anthony said. “People come here in the summertime, in the offseason, they spend time here. When they come to play, they spend time being out and about and just experiencing different things. I am pretty sure people already know New York. It is just a matter of kind of knowing and learning the Knicks organization at that point.”

As the article mentions, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Paul Millsap will be among the All-Stars that Carmelo Anthony can try to recruit while hosting the league’s elite during All-Star Weekend in New York.

This summer, the Knicks are expected to be huge players in free agency, as they currently have just $32,717,391 in guaranteed commitments for next season (and could lower that number even more by making moves before the trade deadline).

They will have a ton of money to throw around at the available stars, and they’re hoping that Anthony and Phil Jackson will be able to lure players to Madison Square Garden.

This kind of recruiting often happens at All-Star Weekend, so it’s no surprise Anthony will be trying to sell the city to players. In the past, he has been on the opposite end of the recruiting pitch and said, “Now it’s my turn to extend the favor.”

The Knicks are just 10-39 right now, but it’s likely that New York’s roster will look very different next season after free-agent additions and the selection of a top prospect from the 2015 NBA Draft.